Super Tuesday ships in to win

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Super Tuesday can change trainer Dean Pederson's Southern California luck in Sunday's $100,000 California Sires Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Pederson, based at Golden Gate Fields in northern California, has made sporadic trips south in recent years, but has had no success.

"I've got my tail kicked a few times," Pederson said.

On Sunday, Super Tuesday could do the kicking.

The California Sires Stakes is run over a 1 1/16 miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies whose sires were nominated to the stakes program. Run as the first race on a nine-race program, it has drawn a weak field. All six of the fillies entered broke their maidens in claiming races, including Super Tuesday, who has done enough in the last few months to shake the label of claiming horse.

Super Tuesday, who is expected to be a strong favorite, ran in turf stakes this spring, finishing third in the Bay Meadows Oaks on May 19 and second in the San Jose Stakes on April 22. On April 5, she won a first-condition allowance race over a mile on turf.

Sunday's race will be her first start away from the Bay Area.

"This is the first time we've had a chance to run her against California-breds," Pederson said.

Glitteringmischief and No Equity are Super Tuesday's leading competition. Glitteringmischief, trained by Mel Stute, won a $50,000 claiming race over 5 1/2 furlongs on turf on June 21. On May 16, she was third in an allowance race for California-bred fillies on turf at Hollywood Park.

No Equity broke her maiden in a $40,000 claimer on June 1 and returned to finish second in a starter allowance on June 17. At first glance, that form would not be good enough to win a $100,000 stakes, but owner Paul Reddam and trainer Craig Dollase won the colt division of this race on June 9 with 33-1 Winston Chi.

Super Tuesday is owned by Harris Farms and Sheila Williams. She can give John Harris, owner of Harris Farms, his second consecutive winner in this race. Last year, he won with Top of Our Game.

Pederson was particularly impressed with Super Tuesday's third in the Bay Meadows Oaks. Sent off at 17-1, she set the pace to the sixteenth pole and was beaten two lengths by 14-1 Allright Now.

"She was on the lead and that wasn't our intention," he said. "She ran a solid race. She's been an overachiever."